T20 World Cup 2024: Not Virat Kohli, Brian Lara wants another Indian player to bat at No.3

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara thinks India should play explosive batter Suryakumar Yadav at No.3 in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 instead of Virat Kohli.

The Men in Blue has mostly slotted Yadav at No.4 while Kohli bats at No.4 in the shorter format. Lara thinks India must find a way to slot him at three.

"My one advice, and I don't know if you're going to like it or not, but Sky has to bat at three. He just has to bat at three. He is one of the greatest T20 players in the game. And you speak to players like Sir Viv, and he will tell you he used to want to get out there in the middle," Lara said in an interaction with PTI which was facilitated by Star Sports.

"And I feel that that's the same thing with SKY. So, get in on it as quickly as possible. He's not an opener, get him out there and if he can bat for 10-15 overs, you know what's going to happen.

"He's going to put you in an unassailable position if you bat him first, or he's going to win the game if he's batting second. And then let everybody sort of position themselves outside of that, but a good structure is important," he explained.

Lara, commentating on the IPL 2024, remarked that India's strong performance could lead to a final clash with West Indies.

"The West Indies should do well. They have a lot of individual stars and when they come together as a team they do well. India, with all their cry over selection, they find themselves in the top four.

"England they seem to enjoy Caribbean a lot, lay on the beach a lot. England will be there and fourth spot, Afghanistan, they are capable of getting into the four," he said.

"India and West Indies final is going to make up for so much wrong that has happened in the past. India missing out in 2007 in second round, that killed us in the Caribbean. We don't want that to happen again. So, India and West Indies in the final and may the best team win," he added.